Healthcare combination may ease stress of medical planning in retirement living

In Pennsylvania, the department of aging wants to simplify medicare and medicaid issues for older residents of retirement living communities, and they've scheduled a series of listening sessions to garner comments about a new Integrated Care Initiative.


Since some seniors use both Medicare and Medicaid, the agency is looking to combine efforts to limit communications problems, and is expected to provide services including doctor's visits, home care and assisted living options for the elderly.


But, the department of aging says that the optional program will in part be shaped by the responses of the elderly at sessions at Westmoreland Community College on August 17, the Jewish Community Center of Philadelphia's Kline Branch Center on August 26, and other times throughout the month.


"The Integrated Care Initiative is designed to make it easier for older adults to get medical and long-term living services," said John Michael Hall, the department secretary.

"Our goal is to reduce confusion for those who deal with Medicare and Medicaid by creating a new, centralized program and we want to hear from people about their concerns and needs."


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